Weight Management during Pregnancy: Women’s Expectation and Knowledge Relating to Gestational Weight Gain.
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Date
2014-07
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Abstract
Background: There are no guidelines on gestational weight gain (GWG) in the UK
although excess gain may increase the risk of postpartum obesity Siega-Riz et al. [1]. The
present study aims to explore pregnant women’s knowledge of GWG and information
received, using data from the managing weight gain in pregnancy (MAGIC) study, a
longitudinal study investigating the knowledge, attitude, experience and expectation of
women during and after pregnancy relating to their body weight and the factors that
influence GWG.
Methods: 70 participants were recruited for this cross-sectional study through the MAGIC
study. Ethical approval was obtained by the East Midlands-Northampton Research Ethic
committee and the R&D department at Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust.
Pregnant women able to read English of all ethnicities, socio-demographic backgrounds
and body weights, ≥18 years were recruited at 12 or 20 week antenatal clinics. A
questionnaire set was developed requiring quantitative and qualitative responses, where
possible using validated questions. Women’s height and weight were recorded on the day
of recruitment. Chi-squared analysis was used to compare women’s expectation of weight
change during pregnancy against their BMI classification, the number of women who
weighed themselves during pregnancy against their BMI classification and to compare the
BMI classifications of women who received advice. The level of expectation of weight change and the women’s ages were compared using a Mann-Whitney U-test.
Results: Mean BMI (SD) of participants=26.4kg/m2 (5.9). 97.7% of participants reported
being weighed by a healthcare professional (HCP) during their pregnancy. No significant
difference was found between level of expectation of weight gain and BMI (p=0.479), level
of expectation and previous pregnancies (p=0.093) or expectation and women’s age
(p=0.484). No significant difference was found between self-weighing and BMI (p=0.060).
17.1% of women reported receiving advice on body weight from a HCP during pregnancy,
no significant difference was found between receiving advice and BMI (p=0.616).
Discussion: Overall the results show that most women don’t have a clear expectation of
how their weight will change during pregnancy regardless of age, BMI and previous
pregnancies and do not receive advice on body weight from HCPs. Pregnancy is seen as
a receptive time to provide women with advice and a lack of advice on body weight from
HCPs has been linked to a lack of concern from pregnant women Olander et al. [2].
Although no specific weight gain guidelines exist in the UK, the Centre for Maternal and
Child Enquiries (CMACE) recommends that all obese pregnant women should be provided
with information about the risks associated with obesity in pregnancy and how they may
be minimised, CMACE/RCOG [3]. In the current study, 33 women, who were overweight
or obese, reported they did not receive advice on weight management, suggesting
recommendations are not being followed.
Conclusion: Most women did not have a clear expectation of weight change during
pregnancy and although most are weighed by a healthcare professional they don’t receive
GWG advice. This could be a missed opportunity to provide information on body weight
during pregnancy although without clear guidelines on GWG, HCPs are limited on what
they should recommend.
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Keywords
Weight gain, postpartum obesity and weight gain expectations
Citation
Whitmore C, Avery A. Weight Management during Pregnancy: Women’s Expectation and Knowledge Relating to Gestational Weight Gain. European Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety. 2014 Jul-Sept; 4(3): 208-209.